Enjoy Fireworks … at a Distance
Cramming into a jammed arena may make some guests a little uncomfortable these days. If you fall into this category, there are other options. The Magic Kingdom fireworks, Happily Ever After, can be viewed at a greater distance with fewer people. Avoid the congested hub area and consider the following choices. The Magic Kingdom will offer tickets to Firework Dessert parties. These parties allow you admission to a cocktail hour (with endless) desserts and access to a private viewing area. Granted, you won’t be the only guests, but it will be far less crowded than the hub. These parties do come at a cost, so you might prefer a ‘free’ option. Watching from the train station at the entrance is another possibility.
You’ll still see the whole show without standing in elbow to elbow crowds. And if that isn’t far enough, you can even view the fireworks outside the parks! Disney veterans know that you can view the show from the beaches of the Polynesian Resort. (The soundtrack is even played through speakers. How cool is that?) Lastly, if you dine at the California Grill in the Contemporary Resort, you can access their private viewing deck for the show. To clarify, this only applies if you dined there that day, but it doesn’t matter if you were a breakfast, lunch, or dinner patron. Just bring your receipt from your meal and enjoy a birds-eye view in a smaller crowd. With so many options, you don’t have to miss a thing.
Beat the Crowds
Avoiding busy days at WDW is a challenge, but you can minimize your human contact to an extent. Be strategic in your daily itinerary. For example, the parks have the smallest crowds first thing in the morning and late at night. Utilize Extra Magic Hours to avoid the large groups of people who are neither early birds or night owls. To clarify, I’m not recommending you make every day a twelve-hour slog, but I am suggesting you commit to either an early or late time frame. Not only will you have more breathing room, but there will also be hardly any wait times compared to the midday swarms of people. Use the afternoons for naps at your hotel or a leisurely lunch. You won’t miss the lines, trust me.
Even in these uncertain days, with just a little brainstorming and planning, you and your family can still enjoy the Disney trip of your dreams. Until then, stay safe and healthy and start planning that wonderful trip.